Downton Abbey 3 | DVD Review

What’s up next for our favorite aristocrats and their staff, now that the war is over

Downton Abbey: Season 3. 3 discs. color. 8¾+ hrs. Brian Percival & others, Carnival/Masterpiece Prod., dist. by PBS, www.shoppbs.org. Jan. 29, 2013. DVD ISBN 9781608838134. $49.99; Blu-ray ISBN 9781608838141. $54.99. SDH subtitles. F/TVThis phenomenally popular British import opens Season 3 with the Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) and his family dealing with the prospect of losing their beloved Downton estate. Then there’s the new son-in-law (and their former chauffeur, played by Allen Leech) to be integrated into the family structure, while daughter Edith (Laura Carmichael) continues to be unlucky in love. Downstairs, Bates (the earl’s valet, played by Brendan Coyle) is still in jail, and there’s the usual scheming by O’Brien (Siobhan Finneran) and Thomas (Rob James-Collier). Several new cast members this time around add some spice. And just when everything seems to be settled, at the end of the last episode the unthinkable happens. This edition of the popular PBS series [Season 1 and Season 2 were, respectively, on LJ’s list of Best DVDs of 2011 and Best DVDs of 2012] is all about adapting to change, not easy for this tradition-bound family. Over two hours of bonus features provide insight into the characters and the demands of filming. VERDICT Three cheers for creator Julian Fellowes, a first-rate cast, and a terrific production. Season 4 can’t arrive soon enough! For all libraries and viewers. [See Trailers, LJ 1/13.]—Joan Greenberg, Warminster, PA

Celebrating her 42nd year with Library Journal, Bette-Lee also edits LJ's Video Reviews column, six times a year Romance column, and e-original Romance reviews, which post weekly as LJ Xpress Reviews. She received the Romance Writers of America (RWA) Vivian Stephens Industry Award in 2013 for having "contributed to the genre or to RWA in a significant and/or continuing manner"